Circuit closer



Feb. 13, 1923.

R. KOTKAS CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Feb.

Patented Feb. 13, 1923.

RUDOLPH KOTKAS, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed February 6. 1920.

T 1 VII/{07M dznw/y concern.

Be it known that I. Ri'moLrI-I Ko'iius. a citizen of l uitcd tatcs. residing at. Portland. in .he county of Multnomah and State oi h'eginr have invented certain new and useful l n'riu'ovements in Circu t Closers. of which the 'tolli'oving is a specificatimi: refercn-rie being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This inven ion relates to a circuit closing apparatus particularly adapted to be attached to the floor of a building, and has 'or its object the provision of means attacl'ied to the Floor structure that will operate tor closing a circuit and ringing a bell or sounding a signal when a person walks upon or over the floor.

Another object is the provision of a comparatively simple andefiicient vibrating device that will intermittently close and open a circuit for sounding a signal by a person walkin g upon the floor of a building.

lVith these and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain other combinations, constructions and arrangements as will. be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1V is a. view in side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, shown attached to the fl or structure of: a building.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 22, Fig. 1. and. looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus, showing particularly the vibrating lever and its co-operating parts.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the main joist upon which are fastened the boards 2 constituting the floor of a building or dwelling. Vertical strips 3 are fastened to the main joist 1, the upper ends of the strips 3 resting against the floor. Secured to the strips 3, but slightly spaced at its end from the floor is a secondary joist 4. Vertical strip 5 and vertical strip 6 are secured to the outer face of the secondary joist 4C, the strip 5 being short in length as Serial No. 356,597.

compared to strip 6. The strip '3 extends a considerable distance below the lower edge oi joist t so as to pivotally support, at 7, the lever 8 of the tensioning device 9, hereinafter specifically described. It is to be noted that, as the main joist l is not supported directly under my apparatus. weight upon boards 2 directly above the apparatus. will cause a slight depression or jar sufiicient to actuate the delicately mounted levers of the apparatus.

livotally mounted, at 10, upon the short strip 3 is primary lever ll. Upon the inner end of the lever ll a bifurcated plate 1.2. o auxiliary lever 13 is pivotally mount ed, at l4. upon the long strip (3: near its inner end is a pin 15 that slidably mounted in the bifurcation of plate 12, so that when the primary lever 11 is swung upon its pivot 10 similar movement will be imparted to the auxiliary lever 13.

An upwardly bowed arm (Fig. 3) 1.6 is fastened at its inner end to the bottom edge of lever 13, and the outer end of arm. 16 is slightly above the upper edge of the lever 13; on the lever 13 is a fastening member or pin 17, and suspended upon the upper end of arm 16 and pin 17 is a taut string or like means 18; suspended upon the string 18 is a vibrating lever 19. A contact wire 20 extends through the lever and on its ends are downwardlv-extending lingers 21. Fastoned to the side of auxiliar lever 13 is a bracket and mounted upon the top of the bracket arc. erminal curs 2?. .Tu the terminal cups en bra ket .22 is onicksilvcr and the quicksilver in. these cups is adapted to be engaged by the fingers 21 for closing a circuit through w res 24. 2 and 26 with the hell or signal 27.

The tensioning device 9 includes the pivotallv mount d lever 8 which is connected at its outer end by link F29 with the primarv lever 11: any movement of the lever 8 will swing the lever ll upon its pivot 10. thereby imparting movement to the auxiliary lever 13. vibrating the vibratory lever 19 that is suspended upon the string 18. cansing the contact wire 20 and its fingers to close a circuit through cups 23 and actuate the signal 27. The bracket 29 is fastened to the main joist 1 near its lower edge. and a vertical set screw 30 is threaded through the bracket; the inner end of the set screw engages a bowed spring 31, which spring 31 is fastened at 32 to the under face or lower edge of lever 8. A coil spring 33 is fastened by eye 34: to the lever 8 near its outer end, and the opposite end of the coil spring 33 .is fastened by eye 35t0 bracket 29. By adjusting the set screw 30 upon the bracket 29 the adjustment of the levers can be obtained to a nicety, so that the vibrating lever is suspended in position for permitting the contact wire 20 to close the circuit through the quicksilver-carrying cups 233 when the slightest vibration. of the device is caused by a person walking upon the floor. The de vice is extremely sensitive, and, therefore, the slightest step upon the floor will cause vibration of the vibratory lever 19, resulting in a signal or alarm being sounded. I have found that the foregoing statements, as well as the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing is absolutely correct by eX- perimenting with a Working model.

While I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiments of mv invention, certain minor changes or alterations may be found expedient in the manufacture if my apparatus on a large scale, and, therefore, I reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates and which fairly fall within the scope of the are pended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of levers pivot-ally connected, tensioning means for said levers movably connected directly to one of the levers, the other lever provided with an arm I and a bracket, a vibratory lever suspended upon the arm and the lever carrying said arm, whereby the vibratory lever is free to swing in a vertical plane upon the first 'mentioned levers being moved, terminals signature.

RUDOLPH KOTKAS. 

